VIDEO: UCF Knights Kick Off New Era Under Scott Frost With Dominating Victory Over SCSU 38-0
By UCF KNIGHTS // September 4, 2016
Next week's game at Michigan In the Big House
ABOVE VIDEO: The new era of UCF football began with a bang on Saturday night in Bright House Networks Stadium. And we’re talking about more than just the pyrotechnics the Knights implemented to the game presentation for the first time ever at the Bounce House.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA (UCF Knights) – The new era of UCF football began with a bang on Saturday night in Bright House Networks Stadium. And we’re talking about more than just the pyrotechnics the Knights implemented to the game presentation for the first time ever at the Bounce House.
The UCF defense — led by the Griffin twins – Shaquill and Shaquem, recorded a shutout and tallied three takeaways. The offense — paced by Justin Holman’s three total touchdowns — took a while to get their own fireworks going. But UCF’s 91 offensive plays eventually ended up in a 38-0 victory over South Carolina State.
“I thought we played well, but we can play a lot better,” Frost said.
“Particularly the first half offensively, we missed a lot of opportunities, but we played better in the second half. At times we looked good and other times we shot ourselves in the foot. We have to keep getting better but that is a huge first start, getting that monkey off our back to get this win, so I’m really excited.”
Placekicker Matthew Wright provided most of the offense – and all of the points for UCF in the first 20 minutes of action. He booted field goals of 46, 34 and 45 yards to put the Knights on top 9-0 after one quarter. His fourth field goal at the 10:07 mark of the second quarter tied a school record for most in a game and put UCF up 12-0.
While the defense continued to shut down South Carolina State, the offense finally started clicking late in the second quarter. Shaquem Griffin’s strip sack and recovery by Jamiyus Pittman gave UCF the ball back with 4:34 remaining in the half.
Consecutive Bulldog penalties pushed UCF deep into SCSU territory and Holman finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown scamper.
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The Knights put three touchdowns on the board in a span of 5:37 in the second half. Dontravious Wilson finished an 11-play, 77-yard march with a 1-yard plunge. Holman connected with Tre’Quan Smith on a 37-yard strike late in the third and hit Tristan Payton with a 5-yard toss early in the fourth quarter to finish the scoring.
